Turkic American Conventions: US politicians attending

Page created April 27, 2014

Starting in 2010, when the Gulen Movement's umbrella organization in the US, the Turkic American Alliance, was formed, there have been annual conventions almost every spring. There was no convention in the year 2012, for reasons that are unknown.

Attendance at these events is not a neutral gesture; it is seen as an endorsement of the extremely controversial Gulen Movement, which is presently involved in a bitter and intense feud with its former ally the Prime Minister of Turkey and his ruling party. This conflict has affected Turkey's economy, shaken its government's stability, and caused more bitter divisions in Turkish society. Neither the Gulen Movement nor its prime lobbying organization the Turkic American Alliance represent the nation of Turkey, and indeed a Today's Zaman article of April 10, 2014 noted that "Not
one Turkish official or diplomat attended the event," referring to the 2014 "Fourth Annual" Turkic American Convention. Should US politicians be taking sides in this strange civil war, in which the principle weapons appear to be illegally wiretapped conversations of high-level government officials? Here in the US, the Gulen Movement continues to deceptively and secretly run charter schools and "academic" competitions for its own benefit, and engages in collusion, deception, cyber-attacks, and other unsavory activities. According to the Twitter stream of the 2014 Turkic American Convention, one US representative said in his speech:

"You have made America a better place" -- Congressman Gregory Meeks

As some elected officials continue to endorse the Gulen Movement, despite the massive amount of information now available on this mafia-like organization's questionable practices (start reading here), we say to them: "It's on your conscience."